Turbine blade tenon spinning machine



Nov. 1, 1938, J. a. MORGAN ET AL TURBINE BLADE TENON SPINNING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1956 INVENTORS JOHN G. Monmm am JOSEEY'PH C BoHn/v.

o 0a ATTORNEY O 1, 1938- J. G. MORGAN ET AL 2,135,040

TURBINE BLADE TENON SPINNING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

WITNESSES:

MN d XE 'ZN 0 ORG: )9? jffiw, and igsgPH C- BOHHN- ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED S TES PATENT. OFFICE TURBINE BLADE TENON SPINNING MACHINE 7 John G. Morgan, Collingdale, and Joseph C. Bohan, Prospect Park, -Pa., assignors to Westinghouse'Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 16, 1936,- Serial No. 116,106

7 Claims. (01. 78-53) Our invention relates to turbine blade manufacture and it has for an object to provide a machine for spinning tenons of blades over the shroud element of a turbine blade assembly.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine for spinning tenons of blades over a shroud strip of a blade assembly, the machine incorporating a support for the assembly and a spinning tool wherein the tool and the assembly may be adjusted to effect spinning alinement of the working end of the tool and a tenon and wherein the spinning tool may be fed toward and away from a tenon.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine for spinning the blade tenons over the shroud element of a turbine blade assembly wherein the spinning tool may be adjusted so that its axis extends normal with respect to the shroud element and wherein the spinning tool may be fed toward and awayfrom a tenon.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine for spinning blade tenons over the shroud elements of a turbine blade assembly.

wherein the spinning tool-isfed toward'and away from a tenon and wherein an assembly is clamped in place with respect to its support in response to feeding motion of the spinning tool. H

A further object of our inventionis to provide a machine for spinning blade tenons over a shroud element of a turbine blade assembly wherein the support for a blade assembly is constructed and arranged to provide for adjustment thereof suitably to the dimensions of an, assembly.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine for spinning blade tenons over. a

shroud element of turbine blade assembly where-- in the assembly is carried by a support m'ounted on a table andwherein the table is constructed and arranged to facilitate the removal and assembly of a support with respect thereto.

These and other objects are effected by our invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of' this application, in which: I Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved heading machine; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken alongthe line II-H of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view. IIIIII of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a view similar toYFig. 1 but showing a different type of turbine blade assembly support;

taken along the line Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View showing the type of assembly and support shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a'plan View showing the-table and the type of working support shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail View showing how the table and the support. may receive axfurther type of turbine blade assembly; and

Figs. 8 andf9 are detail views illustrating the principles of the spinning operation.

In the manufacture of elastic fluid turbines, it is common practice to have turbine blade tenons extending through openings in shroud strips or elements, the tenons being headed over to firmly connect the shroud strips or elements to the blades. Heretofore, various ways have been used to efiect the step of fastening or heading. For example, the tenons may be hammered or rolled down, as in riveting, and then again the fastening may be effected by fusion. In accordance with the present invention, we provide a spinning machine having a well-known type of head spinning tool, the machine incorporating arrangements for disposing the, spinning tool in spinning.

alinement with respect to a tenon and for feeding the spinning tool to effect the spinning and heading operation. The spinning tool is carried by a support, which, not only provides for the feeding motion, but may be adjusted both vertically and angularly to suit the requirements of a blade assembly, itv being desirable that the spinning operation shall be effected with the axis of the spinning tool disposed normally with respect to assembly supports, whereby a support suitable for one type of bladepassembly may be removed'and another inserted.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, there is shown a frame comprising vertical pedestals l0 and II carrying a table l2. A rotary spinning tool [3 is carried by the pedestal H], the spinning tool being manipulated, as hereinafter described, to spin over tenons M of blades l5 extending through openings l6 of shroud ele-' ments II of turbine blade assemblies.

The rotary spinning tool I3 is connected to an arbor l3a driven by a motor IS, the motor, arbor and tool being mounted on a support, at l9, carried by the upper end of the post 20 guided for vertical adjustment by the pedestal Ill.

The spinning tool l3 may be adjusted vertically by raising and lowering thegpost 20 to a desired extent, this operation being effected by any suitable means, for example, the post is shown as being raised and lowered'by rack and pinion mechanism 2| operated by means of a handwheel 22.

Assuming suitable vertical adjustment of the spinning tool with respect to a blade assembly,

then the tool may be angularly adjusted to place the spinning axis of the tool substantially at right angles to the outer surfacelof .the shroud strip I! so as to assure substantially symmetrical or uniform heads without the spinningtool gouging into the shroud or producing a head which is eccentric or which does not engage the shroud uniformly. To this end; the vertically adjustable post 20 has fastened to its upper end a yoke 23 having side plates 24, the tool support, at l9, having pivots or trunnions 25; extending through journal openings 26 formed in the side plates. The side plates also have slot or slots 21 arranged concentrically with respect to the openings 26 and having locking bolts or screws 28 extending therethrough, the locking bolts or screws being carried by the support, at H]. I

If it is desired to arrange the axis of the spinning tool l3 so as to be normal with respect to the surface of the shroud strip element [1, then the locking bolts or screws 28 are loosened and the support, at I9, is moved'angularly about the axis of the pivots 25; and, when the desired position is reached, the locking devices are tightened to clamp the support in adjusted position.

To provide for feeding of the spinning'tool toward and away from a tenon, the support, at I9, is preferably formed in two parts, namely, the housing 30 and the guide or cradle 3|, the housing 30 having a slide portion 32, preferably of T cross-section, fitting a guide groove or passage 33 formed in the guide or cradle 3 I, the guide portion 32 and the guide passage being arranged parallel to the axis of the spinning tool so that, by movement of the housing 30 along theguide, the tool may be adjusted in the direction of its axis toward and away from a tenon.

Feed motion may be imparted to' the housing 30 by any suitable means. For example, the

guide portion 32 is shown provided with a rack' 34 meshing with a pinion 35, carried by the guide or cradle 3| and operatively connected to the lever 36. If the lever 36 is moved in one direction, the spinning tool I3 is advanced toward a tenon l4 and vice versa.

The machine is'arranged for spinning blade tenons over shroud strips of blade assemblies of different types. In Fig. 1 the blade assembly A is shown as comprised by a disc 31 carrying blades 15 having tenons l4 extending through'the openings provided in the shroud I1. In Figs. 4 and 5, the blade assembly B is comprised by a segmental blade holding member 38 of segmental or arcuate form, this type'being particularly suitable for stationary or stator b-lading. In Fig. '7,there is shown ablade assembly C comprised by a spindle 39 having a plurality of spaced'blade discs 46 carried thereby. In order that these different types of blade assemblies maybe supported by the table l2, special supports are provided.

In Figs. 1 and 6 where the assembly A includes a blade disc, the assembly support invide a slot 41 whose opposed edges 48 are engaged by and fastened tothe block assembly in any suitable manner, as by grooves 49 formed in the assembly and receiving the edges and by the device 50 for locking the assembly in position along the slot tosuit the dimensions of a blade disc and the lengths of the blades carried there- Where the blade assembly is comprised by a spindle with a plurality of blade discs thereon, as is the case with the assembly C in Fig. '7, then the blocks 4| have to be located about the spindle between adjacent discs; and, to provide for removal of the blocks 4| from the guide slot 41, the assembly of such blocks between adjacent discs and the re-assembly of the blocks encompassing the spindle between'discs in the guide slot, thetable part 46 is movable away from the part 45 to provide for removal and assembly of the block assembly in the slot. The table parts are located in proper relative longitudinal position by means of pins'52 and 53 carried by the pedestals l0 and. II and Whichfit complementary portions of circular openings 52a and 53a, formed in the table parts '45 and 46. The table parts are fastened to the pedestals by means'of screws 54. v

Assuming that the blade assembly support of Figs. 1 and 6 is to be removed so that an assembly, such as shown in Fig. '1, may be inserted, the table part 46 is removed,- whereupon the blocks 4| may be released from the guide slot 41 and arranged in encompassing relation with respect tothe spindle betweendesired blade discs, as shown in Fig. 7, and, thereafter, the blocks encompassing the spindle may be reassembled with respect to the guide slot 41, the tablepart 46 being again fastened to the pedestals.

'In Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown a support or fixture for a blade assembly of the sector type. In these views, the support such as shown in Figs' 1 and 6, is replaced by a supporting plate 56 and adjustable along the table I 2 and clamped in position with respect to the groove 4 41 by means of the bolts 51 and the clar'npbar 58. The

arcuate holder 38 for the blades I5 is engaged at tially in the vertical plane of-the spinning tool axis so that such pin is'in line with the spinning thrust.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the machine carries a clamp 63 which serves to hold a blade assembly firmly in place with respect toits support during the spinning operation, the clamp preferably being rendered effective by inwardfeedmotion of the spinning tool toward a tenon. Ac-

cordingly, for example, the clamp, 63 is carried by one end of the lever 64 supported at an intermediate point by a fulcrum 65, theother end of the lever having an inclined or cam surface 56 engaged by a roller GT-on the 'housing isflpthe arrangement being such that, prior to engage-' ment with the spinning tool l3 with a tenon I l during feeding motion of the housing 30, the

roller 6'! will have acted on the cam surface 6 6" to engage the clamp 63 with the blade holding member of a blade assembly so as to hold the latter firmly in position with respect toits support during the spinning operation. Upon re -1' traction of the housing 39, the clamp'is releasedthereby freeingv the blade holding member so that the latter may be adjusted to bring another tenon into the vertical plane of the spinning tool axis. To facilitate adjustment of the apparatus suitably to diiferent blade assemblies, the fulcrum 65 is carried by a post 68 held in vertically adjusted position by a screw 69'and the-lever has a plurality of fulcrum pin openings 10. Furthermore, the clamp 63 is carried by a stem H threaded to the lever to secure adjustment of the clamp with respect to the latter.

Apparatus made in accordance with our invention is operated as follows: If the tenons of blades of a blade disc are tobe headed, the support arrangement shown inFigs. 1 and 6 is used. On the other hand, if the blade holding member is in the form of a sector carrying stationary blades, then the support shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is substituted for thefirst form of support,the table l2 being constructed and arranged to receive either type of support and either type of support being adjustable along the guide slot 41 of the table to suit the dimensional requirements of the blade holding member. and the blades. Assuming that a blade assembly is mounted on its support and that the latter is adjusted to proper position along the table, then it is necessary to adjust the blade holding member to bring the tenons, one at a time, into the vertical plane of the spinning tool axis. Assuming a tenon to be properly positioned for the spinning operation, then it is necessary to make such adjustments of the post 29 and thejspinning tool support, at I9, as to bring the axis of the spinning tool into proper relation or spinning alinement with re-' spect to a tenon. If the shroud strip is arranged at right angles to the tenons, the spinning tool. axis is lined with a tenon axis to effect spinning alinement. With the work support and the spinning tool support relatively adjusted in this way, the blade assembly is adjusted angularly to bring a tenon to be headed into spinning alinement with the spinning tool, whereupon the latter is fed inwardly to effect the spinning operation,

the clamping device being rendered effective to.

hold the blade assembly. Upon a tenon being headed over, the spinning tool and its support are retracted, the clamp being released during the back stroke. Next, the blade assembly is indexed or adjusted tobring the next tenon into spinning alinement and the operations just readjusted angularly about the pivots 25 and looked a in position by means of the locking bolts 21 to hold the spinning tool in proper angular position with respect to the shroud strip, this adjustment being necessary in order that the, tenon heads provided by spinning shall be symmetrical or engage the shroud strip "in a uniform manner throughout their peripheral extent. As before, if, due to variations-in dimensions, it should be necessary to effect vertical adjustment of the post 20, thenthis may be readily eifected by operation of the handwheel 22. To provide for feeding and backing motion of the spinning tool, the support, at I 9, is shown made'in two parts, a housing part 3 ll' and a guide 3|, the housing part, as well as the spinning tool carried thereby, being moved along the guide by means of the rack and pinion mechanism actuated by the hand lever carried bythe guide 3|. If necessary, the

clamp mechanism may be adjusted to suit different assemblies, the clamp may be adjusted with respect to the lever, the fulcrum may be raised art that it"i's not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications with out departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. 3 r

What we claim is: 1; In a machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a turbine blade assembly, a frame including a table, a rotary spinning tool carried by the frame, said table including a pair 7 of parts which complementally provide a slot extending toward the tool, a turbine blade assembly support carried by the table and adjustable along the slot suitablyto the dimensions of a blade assembly, means for holding the assembly support in adjusted position along the slot,means providing for movement of one of said table parts away from the other sufficiently to, open the slot to facilitate'assembly and removal of an assembly support with respect to the table, means providing for relative adjustment of the working end o'f'the spinningtool, and a blade tenon to effect spinning alinement thereof, means carried by the tool support for feeding the spinning tool axially toward a tenon. and for retracting it from the latter, and means responsive to feeding movement of the tool for clamping a blade assembly in place with respect to its support during each spin-' ning operation.

7 2. In a machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a turbine blade assembly, a frame including a table, a. rotary spinning tool, a

support for the spinning tool and carried by the frame, said table including a pair of parts which complementally provide a slot extending toward the spinning tool, a turbine blade assembly sup-' port carried by the table and adjustable along the slot suitably to the dimensions of a blade assembly, means for holding the assembly support in adjusted position, means providing for movement of one of said table parts away from the other 'sufficiently'to open the slot to facilitate the assembly and removal of a blade assembly support with respect to the table, means providing for vertical adjustment of the tool support with respect to the frame and for angular adjustment thereof in the plane of the tool axis, means carried by the tool support for feeding the tool toward a tenon and away from the latter, and means responsive to feeding of the tool toward a tenon for clamping. a blade assembly in'place with respect to its support.

3. In a machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a turbine blade assembly, a frame, a rotary spinning tool, a support embodying guide and slide partsand the tool being carried by the slide part, a horizontally disposed turbine blade assembly support carried by the frame, a vertical post, a horizontal pivot between the upper end of the post and said guide part, means for holding the guide part in desired positions of angular adjustment with respect to the post, means for supporting the post from the frame and providing for vertical adjustment thereof and for holding it invertically adjusted position, and means including a pinion carried by the guide part and meshing with a rack on the slide part for feeding the spinning tool toward a tenon and for retracting it from the latter.

4. Ina machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a turbine blade assembly, a frame, a rotary spinning tool, a support for the tool carried by the frame, means for adjusting the tool support 'angularly in the vertical plane of the tool axis and for holding it in adjusted position, a turbine blade assembly support carried by the frame and having an upper horizontalsupporting surface, means carried by the spinning tool support for feeding the spinning tool 3 toward a tenon and away from the latter, alever,

a fulcrum for the lever and carried by the frame, a gripping member connected to one end of the lever for holding a blade assemblyin place with respect to said horizontal surface of the blade assembly support, and cam means cooperating with the other end of the lever and responsive to feeding motion of the tool to tilt the lever to cause the gripping member to clamp a blade assembly in place with respect to horizontal supporting surfaces.

5. In a machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a turbine blade assembly, a frame, a rotary spinning tool, a tool support carried by the frame and including a slide part car-- rying the tool, a horizontally disposed turbine a gripping device for holding the blade assembly in place with respect to its support, said gripping device including a jaw and means carried by one end of the lever for adjusting the jaw toward and from the latter, cam mechanism cooperating with the. other end of the lever for rocking the latter about its fulcrum to cause saidjaw to grip the blade assembly in place with respect to the support of the latter, said cam mechanism including an actuating element carried by said slide, and means providing for vertical adjustment of the fulcrum.

6. In a machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a turbine blade assembly, a frame, a rotary spinning tool, a support embodying guide and slide parts and the tool being carried by the slide part, a pivotal connection between'the frame and said guide part and providing for adjustment of the latter in a plane transverse of the turbine blade assembly support and the blade assembly carried thereby, means for holding the guide part in desired positions of angular adjustment about said pivotal connection, and feed mechanism for imparting feed motion to the slide part to feed the spinning tool toward a tenon and for retracting it from the latter and including an operating element carried by said guide part.

'7. In a machine for heading blade tenons over a shroud strip of a, turbine blade assembly, a

frame, a support embodying guide and slide parts, a

a turbine blade assembly" support carried by the frame, an arbor carried by saidslide part and extending toward the turbine .blade assembly support, a spinning tool carried at the end of the arbor adjacent to the turbine blade assembly support, a motor for driving the arbor and carried by said slide part, a pivotal connection between the frame and said guide part and providing for adjustment of the latter in a plane transverse to the turbine blade assembly support and the blade assembly carried thereby, means for holding the guide part in desired positions of angular adjustment about said pivotal connection, and feed mechanism for imparting feed motion to the slide part to feed the spinning tool toward a tenon and for retracting it from the latter and including an operating element carried by said guide part.

, JOHN G. MORGAN. l JOSEPH C. BOHAN. 

